Plate-holder.



- v PATBNTED APR. 5, 1904. J. H. SMITH & A. BROWN.

PLATE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Wg* /Q /mlxqm @W .6. @dwf No'. @sensa UNITED i STATES Patented April k5,1904'.

PATENT OEEIcE.

JAMES H. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, AND AUGUSTUS BROWN, OF ELGIN, ILLI- NOIS,ASSIGNORS TO JAS. H. SMITH &CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

VCORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PLATE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,422, dated April 5,1904.

Application led June 26, 1903.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, JAMES H. SMITH, residing at Chicago, VCook county,and AUGUSTUS BROWN, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane, State ofIllinois, citizens of the United States,have invented new and usefulImprovements in Plate-Holders, of which the following is aspecification. l

Our invention relates to plate-holders used in photographic cameras.

The use of our improvements obviates the necessity for removing andlaying aside a loose door or back and afterward replacing and fasteningthe same when the plate is changed' or the releasing, opening,closing,and fastening of a hinged door or back when used with a stiff slide.

The invention includes, first, a rest for the sensitized plate whenplacing it on the adjusting-bars; second, a movable rabbet to retain theplate on the upper bar; third, means to hold the plate in its properfocal plane; fourth, means to adjust and removably hold the bars atpredetermined vertical points, and, fifth, means to control and hold theplate laterally when centering the plate.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, Figure l being afront elevation of a plate-holder embodying our improvements and withthe curtain-slide almost entirely raised. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary viewof the central part of the same enlarged, but without the sensitizedplate; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the holder on'linem m of Fig. l.

The various features of the invention are referred to by letters,similar letters denoting corresponding parts in the different views.

The letter A indicates the frame of our plate-holder. It has a permanentback a and is furnished with a curtain-slide B.

C is the upper and D the lower horizontal plate-centering bars. Thesebars are fixed at their ends to vertical strips c and d, respectively,on which are projections cg and cli to move in the vertical slots c andd', respectively, in the frame A. These strips c andd may be Separatedsufficiently to permit the insertion Serial No. 163,264. (No model.)

between them of a pinion and be provided with notched edges to engagethis pinion, if so desired. The lower bar D has a groove d2 to receivethe plate P and a verticalextensionor plate-rest d3 of the inner rabbetto facilitate the introduction of the plate. The upper bar C has anextendedinner rabbet or plate-rest c2 and an adjustable outer rabbet c3,which we hold in place by a lug ci, fixed on the bar C, and rendermovable by the fingerslots or. A recess c in the end of the rabbet c3and a stop-pin c7 in the bar C limit theA movement of the rabbet c3. Thelower edge .of the plate P may thus be placed in the groove Z2 and itsupper edge rest upon the upper rabbet 02 and be made secure by drawingdown the adjustable rabbet c3.

That feature of our improvement by which we adjust and removably holdthe'bars at predetermined vertical points' may be attained by variousdevices which may be attached tok and move with either bar and beprovided with means to engage a fixed part, as the back of theplate-holder. Two leaf-springs are readily adapted for this purpose, butfor convenience we prefer to use one leaf-spring E, whose lower end isfastened to the lower bar D, and whose upper end curves forward andexerts a slight pressure upon theI back of the plate P, by which theplate is held steadily in position.A A lug or'pin e projects from theback of the spring E and is adapted to engage recesses or holes f in'theback a or in a plate F, fixed on the back a. The scalefigures 4, 5, &c.,'and the index e indicate the place at which the lower bar must bestopped to accommodate a plate of a given size.

G is a wire spring-catch or other equivalent means made laterallymovable on the lower bar D and having an end g bent to engage notches inthe outer rabbet of the lower bar or in a plate L, provided with a scalefixed on said bar. Our preferred form for this device isa strip g',sliding horizontally in a groove g2 in the front 0f the lower bar belowthe plate-rabbet. To this strip g is attached the spring G, alreadydescribed. The bent portion g of this spring extends across the groove din the lower bar and forms a stop or rest for the plate P.

Having now described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a plate-holder having horizontal plate-i bars, an adjustable outerrabbet on either of said bars, said rabbet having recesses in its ends,a lug to hold said rabbet in place, and stop-pins in the bar to engagesaid recesses for the purpose stated.

2. In a plate-holder having' vertically-movable plate-bars, thecombination with either of said bars or' means to stop the same at agiven point and to exert a slight pressure against the plate on saidbars as described.

3. ln a plate-holder an upper and a lower movable plate-bar, a springattached to either of said bars and having its outer end curved toslightly press against the plate in said bars, substantially as hereindescribed.

4. In a plate-holder having' a iixed back provided with recesses and anupper and lower plate-centering bar, a leaf-spring attached to the lowerbar and a projection on the back of said spring adapted to engage saidrecesses in the back of the plate-holder.

5. In a plate-holder having' horizontal platebars provided with notchesin the Jfront ral bet of one of said bars, a horizontally-adjust ablespring on said.bar adapted to engage said notches and to prevent lateralmovement of the sensitized plate as herein set forth.

6. In a plate having horizontal plate-bars, a plateon the lower barhaving notches in its upper edge and a longitudinal groove in its frontside, a strip movable in said groove, and a spring on said strip having'a bent end adapted to engage said notches and prevent lateral movementof the sensitized plate.

In testimony whereotl we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing' witnesses. n

JAMES H. SMITH. AUGUSTUS BROWV N. Witnesses for James H. Smith:

CHAs. B. DoRR, CARL B. LINNEY. Witnesses for Augustus Brown:

BOY R. PHILLIPS, R. H. KRAMER.

